Collingwood has signed Gaelic footballer Aishling Sheridan as an AFLW category B rookie.
Sheridan has played two seasons with Cavan in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and will join the 2020 Collingwood AFLW program in the GAA’s off-season.
Already Sheridan has acquired an impressive portfolio of accolades, having received GAA 2017 and 2018 Team of the League Division Two honours.
The Gaelic centre half-forward is no stranger to Australian Football having played two games in this year’s VFLW for NT Thunder, one of which was against the Pies.
The 22-year old has been highly sought after by clubs across the country having been prominent for her athleticism and leadership in the Crosscoders program in September last year.
Sheridan was one of 11 Irish players who travelled to Melbourne as part of a week-long CrossCoders camp in Melbourne. The same program identified current Irish Collingwood AFLW player Sarah Rowe.
The two Irish recruits know each other well as Gaelic teammates when the pair attended Dublin City University together.
Collingwood’s General Manager of Women’s Sport, Jane Woodlands-Thompson, said the club has followed Sheridan closely since her impressive performance in the VFLW.
“Aish has been on the radar of at least three clubs and we’re rapt that she decided to find a home at the Holden Centre,” Woodlands-Thompson said.
“There’s a really high transfer of skill from the Gaelic game to Australian rules football and we’ve seen that success in Sarah Rowe and across the league.
“As well as what she’ll bring to the game, Aish is a great fit for our culture. She displays great pride in wearing her home jersey which is a great fit for the mantra we have in our women’s football department.”
With the AFLW’s rookie list capacity limited to three players, Sheridan completes the allocation. Rowe and former netballer Sharni Layton are also at Collingwood as rookies.
The new Irish edition brings Collingwood’s AFLW 2020 list to a total of 25. The Pies will be eligible to select five recruits in the upcoming AFLW draft come October 22.
Sheridan will be available for comment upon her arrival at the Holden Centre in November to commence the 2020 pre-season.
